The Inaugural Spears and 'Shoes Biathlon - A huge success!

"Ready....five seconds...set....GO!!!!!!!"

I've been told Vancouver is hosting some sort of major sporting event right now...all I know for sure, is this past Sunday afternoon, I had the privilege of shaking hands with a world champion!

The Inaugural Spears and 'Shoes Biathlon - a multi-sport event featuring atlatl accuracy competition (spears) combined with a 2.4km snowshoe race ('shoes) - saw 14 hearty racers have a blast, test out some traditional technologies, and compete in a fun new race.

The winner of the event was Lane Coulter, of Virden, MB, who posted a score of 9 minutes, 21 seconds, to claim first place.  Scoring was simple:  each racer's snowshoe race time had 90 seconds shaved off for each successful atlatl hit on the range - four shots each, for a combined possible bonus of 6 minutes.

Lane, a young man who came to the race with his Cadet group, ran a solid snowshoe race, and was the most successful atlathlete (officially a word now!) of all the racers.  Lane was quite a bit younger than most racers, and had never seen an atlatl before the race.

Pre-race practice throw by J. Harms, currently ranked 3rd in the world with a personal best score of 12:09.

When asked about his performance, the world's first champion said, "I mess around with a bow and arrow a little bit, but this is new...I guess I'm good!"  the young Mr. Coulter will have a good chance to get even better, as his prize is a hand-made atlatl set!

Another racer came up to me after the race, smiling.  "I thought I was the only one who would be interested in this type of event - now, I see there are more like me!"  She added, "When's the next one?"

The next one is in the works!  No date, or details...yet...but the next, similarly-inspired race/challenge is in the first stages of planning.  It's still a long way off, but early indications are Spears and 'Shoes will happen again next winter, as well - 9:21 is the score to beat!

As with all FortWhyte Alive programs, a big thank-you goes to the volunteers who helped with this race.  Another HUGE thank-you goes to all participants, spectators, and well-wishers.  A few months ago, this race was an off-beat idea.  Now, it is in the history books as an awesome event - mixing fun, fitness, cultural education, and...FUN.

No big TV contracts.  No performance-enhancers.  No multi-million sponsorship deals.  Just good, old-fashioned (like paleolithic-fashioned!) fun.  This event, for me, reflected human spirit at its best!

The final racers coming toward the finish line

(A big thank-you to all who contributed photos to this post!)

FortWhyte Owlive?

Quick - what bird do you think of when you think of FortWhyte Alive?

If you would answer, "Canada Goose", you would be in good company.  We had our start when our founders released some geese back in the 1950's, back in the days when the bird's numbers were in serious decline.  One of the first logos for Fort Whyte Centre featured stylized geese.

This winter, a different type of bird is giving the geese some serious competition for becoming FortWhyte Alive's avian mascot.  These days, it seems one cannot turn around without encountering owls!

The Northern Hawk Owl, last seen around of the New Year, popped up again last Saturday in the extreme northeast corner of FortWhyte's property.  Though I've been advised the Northern Hawk Owl (or, NHO, if your into brevity) is not a capital-letter-worthy Rare Bird, it is unusual, and certainly beautiful.

The NHO isn't our only beautiful owl.

This Great Horned Owl (GHO) pic was snapped by Stuart O. about two weeks ago, near our Tree House.  In the winter of 2007-2008, we had a pair of GHO's choose this forest neighbourhood for a nest, and we got to see their family grow from egg to owlet to owl.

Just in case you're not feeling owl overload yet, I'd like to mention a Great Gray Owl (GGO?) and a Snowy Owl have also been seen at FortWhyte Alive since January 10, 2010.

Simple ecological principles tell us we'll never see as many owls as geese - owls need larger habitats, because they eat higher on the food pyramid.  However, I would suggest owls as a fitting icon for FortWhyte's urban forest - certainly this winter, at least.

Speaking of iconic - what has four legs, claws, teeth, and is coming to the touch museum?  It's going to create quite a stir...not a roar, cuz this animal cannot technically roar...but it's going to be BIG!!!

Tomorrow:  Weather Maps - which are best for your purposes?

'Til then, all the best.

-Barret

It's in my nature - to say thanks!

Hello, everyone!

An article profiling some of my work at FortWhyte Alive, and some of my side interests, ran in the Winnipeg Free Press this past Saturday.  A series of web videos accompany the article; if you've been on a tour of FortWhyte with me, you'll likely see something familiar in them, and if you've never been, I encourage you to watch them, and let me show you around!

The title is, "It's in His Nature", and the jist is my love of the outdoors and our Manitoba culture is reflected in my work and personal life.  Which, I hope, is true.  I try.

The article also got me thinking about the people who've helped ensure outdoor life, an appreciation for this province and its peoples, and the willingness to learn and share new ideas and facts are part of my nature.  So, I'd like to take a time-out from my usual blog fair of coyote tracks, owls, and wild-fungus-foraging to say some thank-yous.

First, a big thanks to Alison Mayes of the Free Press...for thinking up the story idea, and for doing a great job turning a series of random Barret-facts into a readable piece.

Another big thanks is due to Ruth and the folks in the photo department of the Free Press.  The videos are great...I never get to see myself on a program, so I appreciated the chance to say, "gee, that's what I look like at work!", and the opportunity you've given me to share what I do with friends and family far away.

The article also mentions some of the people who helped shape my nature into what it is today.  My parents and Grandparents played a big role in making me into the "Nature-nut" I am today - and taught me a lot of other good things along the way.  My extended family have always encouraged my outdoor pursuits - a big thanks to my family, those close, and farther away.

The only reason I get to have any sort of adventure in my everyday work is the great team I work with.  My colleagues on the Education Team here at FortWhyte - current and past - I've been so lucky to work with you...I mean it.  Ed Team forever!  Another big thanks is due to all the other staff at FortWhyte Alive... administration, development, site crews, my camp colleagues - we're a jigsaw puzzle, and aren't complete without all the pieces.  Also, without the dedicated efforts of a huge volunteer base, FortWhyte Alive would be very much alive at all.  Your time, talents, and teaching is something I value deeply.  Thank-you.

To those who taught me at Pinawa Secondary or U of W...thanks!

The Free Press article references my Scouting experience.  My Scout leaders - from Beavers on through those at the Manitoba office, and everyone in between...thank-you.  Some of my proudest moments have come through Scouts Canada - and my experience in the program has given me skills and abilities to create more proud moments.

To the people who I've worked with at summer camps, or worked with me when I was a camper (LV and Amisk - you rock!!!), through youth work, and to the RP detachment at Kildonan...wouldn't be doing what I do if I hadn't learned something from you along the way.

To my friends - you encourage me, you laugh with me, you humour me when Interpreter Barret decides to show up at inopportune times, you challenge me and support me...and I thank-you for it all.

Finally - blog readers, a great big thank-you.  Knowing people read the posts help me keep them coming!

I've left no one off the list by intent...if I missed someone, it's an oversight.

Stay tuned.  Tomorrow, I've got owl news, fun with weather maps, another teaser on our new museum resident, and much more!

-Barret

FortWhyte Niversity...what's missing?

"U" are!!!

In September 2009, FortWhyte Alive launched a new idea in volunteer and staff development.  We found experts from various fields, and brought them to FortWhyte to share thier knowledge.  The idea was to develop a better background understanding of the environmental and cultural issues we work with here, and for people's general interest.  The program was called FortWhyte University.

The program worked well.  It worked really, REALLY well.  We started another session in December - and realized, "hey, this is working REALLY well...if our staff and volunteers like this stuff, other people will too!"

I am pleased to be one of the first to announce that we have an upcoming series of FortWhyte University  programs open to everyone!

Saturday, January 23rd, we have two dynamic presenters back-to-back....

10-11:30am:  Dr. Gordon Goldsborough - "Lakes as Ecosystems":  Gord is an expert on Manitoba's "other lake"...we all know about Lake Winnipeg, but what about Lake Manitoba?  Come out and learn more about how the living community in this magnificent lake interact to form something grander than its parts.

Incidentally, Gord (who also teaches at that "other" university, the U of M) knows a lot about our lakes here at FortWhyte Alive.  One of the tasks I have the honour of performing is ongoing water quality assessment during the winter.  How does a camp director- turned interpreter learn to do water quality sampling and analysis?  Gordon Goldsborough teaches him, and in the process, becomes one of this interpreter's heroes.

Like lakes?  Like stories about people working in the wilds of Manitoba?  Want to see science in action,  exciting and accessible?  Three words..."Come See Gord!!!!!"


1:30-3:00 – Most people know that getting outside is good for them but not many people are fully aware of the many health benefits from stress reduction to enhanced spirituality.  Come learn the secrets from Laurie McPherson, of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority -  you’ll be inspired to get outside and get healthy, even in winter!

For more info on either of these presentations, call us at (204) 989-8355.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24TH

FortWhyte University continues the next day, with Roadside Ready at 1:30pm.  I'll be sharing tips and tricks for keeping yourself comfortable should you become stuck in your vehicle away from the comforts of home.  We'll be making car kits, full of essentials to keep you, friends, and family safe and happy if you find yourself in a spot.  I'm excited about the presentation - making it doubly interesting is the fact I'll have run the Ice Donkey adventure race that morning.  Come, learn to survive, and see if I survived the race!

(Please note:  I'm buying supplies for the car kits.  Thus, there is both a small fee, and the need to pre-register - either check our website, or email me for details!)

Be an Eco-Driver follows at 2:30pm.  For most of us, motor vehicles are a necessity. We've all heard that when it comes to carbon emissions, vehicles = bad. The picture is not entirely grim, though- this workshop will present ideas to help lighten the impact of driving a car.  Oh, and you'll learn to save money.  That's always a good thing.

See "U" all very soon!

-Barret

Biathlon Postponed - and a Touch Museum Teaser Trailer

Hello, all!

It is my regretful duty to announce the postponement of the Inaugural FortWhyte Alive Snowshoe Biathlon.  With the holidays having just passed, and the cold temperatures this week, interest has been tepid...so, we're going to try again on February 20th, at 1pm.

If the idea of a snowshoe race with some atlatl throwing interests you, let me know!

ALSO:

There's a new resident moving in to the Kiwanis Touch Museum in the next few weeks.  It's going to be a big, hairy deal...keep watching for info!!!!

CTV News at 6 and 11 - and another picture of the Northern Hawk Owl

Happy New Year!!!

CTV News Winnipeg just left FortWhyte Alive.  A crew was out to capture some of the fun and excitement that is the last day of the school holiday here at FortWhyte.  Maple Taffy, Sod House Pioneers, Toboganning, and a quick mention of the Hawk Owl might make the newscast at 6pm and 11pm tonight.  So, if you are near a TV during those times, check it out!

I also was the fortunate recipient of a beautiful picture of the Northern Hawk Owl taken by a visitor to FortWhyte Alive.  I've been given permission to share it - so, behold in all of its mid-winter splendor, the Northern Hawk Owl!

isn't it a beaut?

-Barret

UFO Pictures from FortWhyte Alive

Yup, you read the title right:  I am posting pictures from yesterday's Unidentified Fluffy Owl encounter at the Bird Feeding Station South of the Interpretive Centre.

After ruling out species I'm familiar with, I consulted field guides to try and classify the owl.  I think it is a Northern Hawk Owl - but as the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words...please, birders, give me your thousand words of confirmation, disagreement, etc. so I can correctly ID the owl!

(A HUGE thanks to Tara for the use of the photo!)

The owl seemed fairly unconcerned with the human attention it drew, but was distinctly uncomfortable when a flock of chickadees surrounded it.  The chickadees did not actually "mob" the owl, as I've seen crows do, but surrounded it and started "looking at it funny"...after about a minute of being surrounded by chickadees, the owl flew to a different perch, where there were no chickadees to hassle it.

After about 45 minutes of being admired, the owl flew away into some dense forest.

The Manitoba Rare Bird Alert system states the Northern Hawk Owl is a rare (about one sighting per year) bird in the Southern Manitoba Prairie region.  I count myself very fortunate to have been in the right place, at the right time, to see the owl.

If you have seen this owl - or if you'd like to confirm or dispute my ID- please do so!

A very Happy New Year to everyone.  Keep it fun, keep it safe, and get outside today or tonight...it's cold, but it's beautiful!